THE AGONY OF ECSTASY

HERE ARE SOME of the effects of Ecstasy, the so-called "club drug" that's a
favorite among teens at all-night dances: confusion, depression, sleep
problems, anxiety, and paranoia.

The immediate effects, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse,
last three to six hours. But the same symptoms have been reported to return
weeks after the drug was taken. In high doses, the drug can lead to
seizures, heart attacks, and strokes.

That's why it is disturbing to learn that the use of Ecstasy, while still
relatively low, has doubled among teens in the past five years, according
to a survey by the Partnership for a Drug Free America.

The non-profit group, which strives to reduce the use of illegal drugs,
questioned 7,290 students this year in Grades 7-12 nationwide. There was a
margin of error of plus or minus 1.5 percentage points. The survey showed
that one in 10 teenagers tried Ecstasy during the past year, compared with
7 percent the preceding year.

The survey had some good news, too. Marijuana use by teens declined to 40
percent, the third consecutive drop since 1997, when marijuana use among
teens was reported at 44 percent. But the most important message of the
survey is that parents must act immediately to teach their youngsters about
the dangers of using Ecstasy.